Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the treadOf the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.

Edward Thomas, Roads

Sunday, August 12, 2018

The Centennial at the Grass Roots: Learn Your Local WWI Heritage

Local, Regional, and State Histories Are Coming Off the Presses

More and more publishers are turning out WWI titles focusing on states, regions, towns, and military installations. Here, I'd like to single out just one publishing collaboration: Arcadia Publishing and The History Press headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. Together they are the largest and most comprehensive publishers of local and regional books in the United States with a library of more than 12,000 titles. The two imprints publish a combined 900 books each year. Their full collection can be searched at:

Below are examples of two categories of their superbly illustrated World War I monographs. The first image shows their great selection on the training camps built for the Doughboys and were later used for WWII's GIs. While the authors take different approaches, they all cover the building of the camps, the sudden impact of tens of thousands of young men arriving in the area, and details about the particular units that trained on the bases.

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The second shows their volumes on how states, sections, and towns experienced the war. You own local library or historical society may already have published similar works on your area. However, even as we write, other publishers are coming on-stream with WWI titles focusing on states and local libraries in the war. Check online and at your local libraries for what is now available.

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1 comment:

Instead of writing a book, I am creating monthly videos that tell the story of Michigan, the World War and the Centennial. Photos and video are the wave of the future and allow you to capture the moments and events. So, instead of me telling people what happened, they can see for themselves.

Editors & Contributors

Roads to the Great War is part of the Worldwar1.com (link) family of websites and periodicals. It is produced by an editorial team, growing for over a decade, that includes: Michael Hanlon, Kimball Worcester, David Beer, Tony Langley, Donna Wagner, and Diane Rooney. We will also be inviting other WWI historians, enthusiasts, and collectors to contribute to Roads.